Program Admission

Below you will find information on how to applying to the University of Toronto's graduate psychology program. Our program focuses on research and experimental psychology. For information about Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto, go to http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/psych/clinical-psychology. For programs in both Counselling Psychology and School and Child Clinical Psychology (SCCP), please contact the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto at http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/aphd/.

Admission Requirements

An appropriate four-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent with high academic standing from a recognized university.

Normally at least an A- (or first class standing) in the final two years of undergraduate study.

Competitive scores on each subtest of the general section of the Graduate Record Examination (the Psychology special test is not required). Graduate Record Examination information can be obtained directly from Educational Testing Service ( www.gre.org ). The institution code is 0982 and the department code is 2016.

The equivalent of at least 6 full courses (12 semester courses) in Psychology, including statistics and some laboratory experience Note: Students may be admissible with fewer than 12 semester courses in Psychology. Students with a strong background in mathematics, physical or biological science, neuroscience, cognitive science, linguistics or computer science are especially encouraged to apply even if they have fewer than the suggested number of psychology courses.

If your primary language is not English and you graduated from a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction is not English, then you must demonstrate your facility in English by completing one of the tests listed below. This requirement should be met at the time you submit your application.

Because the number of applicants always exceeds the number of available places, meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

All programs of study are intended to lead to the doctoral degree in psychology and applicants interested only in a Masters degree should not apply. Successful applicants are admitted to a one-year M.A. program; assuming satisfactory performance, students then continue on to the Ph.D. program. Applicants with an M.A. in Psychology from another university may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program. The departmental admissions committee makes recommendations to the School of Graduate Studies based on the documentation specified below.

Applicants will receive official notification of the outcome of their application from the School of Graduate Studies, usually by the end of March or early April . This notification will be in the form of a letter from the department confirming financial arrangements. Successful applicants must inform the department in writing by April 15 whether they wish to accept or reject the offer of admission and financial support. Those accepting are expected to arrive on campus no later than the first week in September.

Application Procedures

The application for graduate study at the University of Toronto is available online ( https://apply.sgs.utoronto.ca ) It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all documents are submitted by the deadlines outline below. It is recommended that documentation be submitted well in advance of the deadlines to avoid any disappointment. Please read and follow all instructions carefully.

About the Application

Applications to the Department of Psychology must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) using an online application which is housed on a secure server at the University of Toronto ( https://apply.sgs.utoronto.ca ). The deadline to access the online forms for the Department of Psychology is December 1.

The online application allows applicants to manage and submit biographical and educational information as well as specific documents immediately to the University. Applicants can edit an in-progress application and check the status of all documents submitted using a secure password and Userid.

A valid email account is needed to complete the online application, as the University will correspond with applicants using email.

Applications are considered complete and can be reviewed only after all documentation is received by the graduate unit (this includes letters of reference submitted online by referees and official transcripts sent by mail). All documentation must be received at the Graduate Unit by the document deadline date.

The deadline to access the online forms for the Department of Psychology is December 1.

How to Apply

Log in to the online application at the URL provided below.

Provide the biographical and education information requested (including the Department of Psychology Academic Interest form, which is included in the online application).

Be prepared to submit contact information for TWO referees. Be sure to inform your referees that you are doing this and that the University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies will be contacting them by email.

Submit your payment (online payment is available). Note that the Psychology Academic Interest form will appear after you pay. You can also download the Academic Interest form here, and then upload via the website.

Arrange to submit one official transcript from each post-secondary institution that you have attended. We do not accept WES packages.

Note: Although the committee will make its decision based on your uploaded scanned transcripts, all official paper transcript are still required at the time of application. Please ensure that these are received before the document deadline. Your offer of admission will not be released until your official transcripts have been received and the information on the scanned transcripts verified. Mail transcripts to: Graduate Admissions Department of Psychology University of Toronto 100 St. George Street Toronto, ON M5S 3G3

Deadlines

Application Deadline: December 1 Please complete the online application and payment by this date.

Document Deadline: December 5 Please supply all documents requested to the Graduate Unit by this date (including academic interest form, official GRE scores, two letters of reference, and transcripts, both scanned and official hard copies). Once all documents are received your application can be reviewed for admission. It is your responsibility to monitor the status of your documents in the online application and to follow up with your referees if references are not received in advance of deadlines.

Making an Application

Application for Financial Assistance

The department strives to maintain financial support to all graduate students for the M.A. year and for each of the first four years of the Ph.D. program. This support is in the form of scholarships, fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. At present, the minimum level of support is $18,750 plus fees and tuition per year for one MA year and four PhD years. This amount, however, is conditional on continuing availability of funds, as well as satisfactory academic and research performance.

To qualify for funding students must apply to all of the sources listed below for which they are eligible. Note that only the Connaught Scholarships include payment of tuition fees.

Connaught ScholarshipsThese are awarded by the University to outstanding applicants and are renewable for up to three years, contingent on continued strong academic performance. All applicants are automatically considered for these awards, which currently have a value of $12,000 plus fees.

University of Toronto Fellowships These are awarded to outstanding applicants and to graduate students already in the program. All students are automatically considered for these awards during their MA year and for their first five Ph.D. years.

Ontario Graduate Scholarships These are awarded by the Ontario government to outstanding applicants. Both registered and prospective U of T students must apply online though the School of Graduate Studies website (http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/informationfor/students/money/support/provincial/OGS.htm ). All Canadian citizens, permanent residents and visitors already holding student authorization are eligible for these awards, which have a value of $15,000.

Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada ScholarshipsThese are awarded by NSERC to students on the basis of high scholastic achievement and evidence of capacity to do research. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible. The doctoral deadline is in early October and the CGS M deadline is December 1. The value of the PGS award is $21,000. The value of the CGS D is $35,000 and the CGS M is $17,500.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada FellowshipsThe SSHRC doctoral awards are for students in social or developmental psychology who already have the M.A. degree. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible. The Doctoral deadline is in late October and the CGS M deadline is December 1. The value of the Doctoral award is $20,000 and the CGS M is $17,500.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I require transcripts from all of the post-secondary institutions attended? YES, an official transcript is required from each university attended. Applicants who attended universities outside North America must provide notarized English translations to accompany all foreign documentation not written in English. Academic records must be enclosed in an envelope provided by the institution(s) and sealed or signed across the back of the envelope. These may be provided directly from the institution or through the applicant (DO NOT OPEN transcripts issued to applicant). Faxed records are not considered official. Documents will not be returned to the applicant. If academic records are interim, pending completion of studies in progress, official final academic records indicating that the degree has been conferred must be submitted to the graduate office as soon as possible and before admission can be finalized.

Can I provide more that two reference letters? No. Please submit TWO reference letters only. Note: the online application system permits submission of only two reference letter.

Are there reference letter forms? The Department of Psychology does not have special forms for the reference letters. Once you have confirmed your application information by moving to payment, the system will email your referees and ask them to provide references. They will be asked to submit an electronic copy of the reference in Word or PDF after logging in to the online application through a link the School of Graduate Studies will provide.

How do I submit the academic interest form? You may submit the academic interest form online in Word format. The document can be saved by following the “Submit” link on the document status page in the online application.